Rangers

Group A

Inter Milan v Tottenham Hotspur

Inter Milan to win: 3/4 at Boylesports
Draw: 14/5 at Bwin
Spurs to win: 9/2 at SkyBet

See our full match betting preview here

FC Twente v Bremen

Twente to win: 7/5 at Boylesports
Draw: 5/2 at SkyBet
Werder Bremen to win: 2/1 at BetFred

Just as the other match is a battle for the top of Group A, this one is to see who get further away from the bottom. Twente and Bremen are both on one point at the moment, with Bremen holding Spurs, and Twente holding Inter for their respective points. A lot more was expected from German side Bremen really, as German sides are usually tough and difficult to beat. However, Bremen are in some very poor form this year and it shows in the Champions league. They were outclassed in a heavy 4-0 away defeat to Inter, and they should have been buried at home by Spurs when they fell 2-0 behind. You put these two sides on paper and you would fancy Bremen as the stronger team. However the form is letting them down, and confidence as well, and you could visibly see that in their last outing. This will give Twente a good chance to shine again at home, and after holding Inter Milan to a 2-2 draw, they actually go into the match as favourite. However there really is little to separate them, and it’s a tough call picking a winner out of them. If you want a winner then a simply betting strategy is to go with the narrow home advantage this one will bring. However, a draw is a plausible outcome here.
Tip: Draw

Group B

Schalke v Hapoel Tel-Aviv

Schalke to win: 1/2 at victor Chandler
Draw: 7/2 at Totesport
Hapoel Tel Aviv to win: 7/1 at Bet365

This is one your football predictions will have home win written all over it. After losing to Lyon in their opening fixture, German side Schalke overturned Benfica 2-0 in a comfortable home victory. They will have been happy to get that one under their belt, and having seen Lyon beat Hapoel away from home, Schalke will see this as an easy two points. You football betting should as well. Schalke are actually in the relegation zone in the Bundesliga and could only manage a home draw against bottom side Stuttgart on the weekend. They aren’t in great form, but they should still have the energy and quality to beat Hapoel who have shipped five goals in two matches in the Champions League. They have Klaas Jan Huntelaar up front who is firing on all cylinders at the moment at international level, and in the domestic league. Huntelaar is 11/10 at Bet365 to get on the score sheet as Anytime Goalscorer. They also have ex Real Madrid legend Raul who is 11/8 at SkyBet. As for Hapoel, the really haven’t managed to pose much of a threat to anyone. Look for a home win in this one, as German grounds are notoriously intimidating at the best of times to travel to.
Tip: Schalke to win

Lyon v Benfica

Lyon to win: 5/4 at William Hill
Draw: 23/10 at SkyBet
Benfica: 13/5 at BetFred

Lyon are always one of those sides which you look to and think that they should be a banker at home. They are always hanging around the Champions League, and always give a good account of themselves. They reached the semi finals of the competition last year, ousting Real Madrid along the way, and they are very sound group stage players. After seeing off the main threat of Schalke in their opening match, and backing that up with a comfortable win over Hapoel, they now have a comfortable home match against Hapoel. Another three points will see them on maintain at least the three point lead they hold now. Six goals in two games shows that there is no shortage of confidence up front. Portugal’s Benfica got themselves off to a nice start by beating Hapoel, who are regarded as the weakest side in the group, before falling to Schalke on match day two. That was really a missed opportunity for the Portuguese, who didn’t find the Germans in great form, but still couldn’t get the better of them. Now they have the extremely hard task of trying to get the better of one of the best Champions League performers around in Lyon. They travel to France as underdogs, and your football betting should easily reflect that. Expect Lyon to push on comfortably with a win and maintain expected progress towards winning the group.
Tip: Lyon to win

Group C

Manchester United v Bursaspor

Man Utd to win: 2/9 at 888Sport
Draw: 6/1 at Bet365
Bursaspor to win: 14/1 at Bodog

See our full match betting preview here

Rangers v Valencia

Rangers to win: 13/5 at BetFred
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Valencia to win: 5/4 at Totesport

It may be a little bit of a surprise to some as to how well Scottish Champions Rangers are do in the Champions League so far. With no automatic place in the competition from next season for the winners of the Scottish Premier League, Rangers have to go for broke. They sit on four points, level with Man Utd at the top of the group, and a lot of that was down to the incredible amount of hard work which they put in to earn themselves a 0-0 draw at Old Trafford. Many had expected the Scots to go there and get walked all over, but they didn’t. In many ways they generally held on comfortably and made Man Utd look a bit lethargic and devoid of ideas. That was to their credit, and even more to the credit of Rangers, they sneaked themselves a win against Bursaspor in their second match, leaving them unbeaten after two matches. Man Utd and Valencia were supposed to be the strong teams to lead the way, and that may yet happen. Valencia really were the better team against Man Utd, but they just never took their chances, and the Spaniards paid the price when United stole a late goal through Hernandez to claim all three points. Up until that point, Valencia really had looked the most likely to win, and with their 4-0 thumping of Bursaspor prior to that, Valencia have to be strong favourites in your betting for this one. They are a good, quality side, and could over power Rangers. Rangers need one of their biggest European nights at home to stay in contention in the group with this one. However, you have to question the lack of firepower in Europe, and it is hard to see them outscoring Valencia.
Tip: Valencia to win

Group D

Panathinaikos v Rubin Kazan

Panathinaikos to win: 9/5 at William Hill
Draw: 23/10 at Boylesports
Rubin Kazan to win: 7/4 at Victor Chandler

There is still a lot to play for in this group really, and this is an important match. Rubin were seen as one of those potential dark horses in the tournament, and difficult to beat. Their opening day loss against Copenhagen really put the dampeners on that reputation, and now they find themselves on one point from two matches and in danger of being out of the qualification race. However, a win for them here would really get them back on track with Copenhagen and Barcelona squaring off. Rubin put in a better performance on match day two, frustrating the might of Barcelona in Russia in a 1-1 draw. That was more of what was expected from them, and you have to look at them as favourites to go on and win this one, if they are to give a serious account of themselves. Panathiakos haven’t shown up to the races yet, as the Greeks have suffered two defeats and only one goal. They got hammered 5-1 by Barcelona on the opening day, and then lost at home to Copenhagen, leaving them bottom and without a point. There doesn’t look enough quality to really challenge for a qualification spot, but this is their best chance of picking up at least a point. A draw here looks very promising, otherwise would lean towards  Kazan sneaking it by the odd goal. Nothing more than that, in what should be a tight match.
Tip: Draw

Barcelona v Copenhagen

Barcelona to win: 1/7 at Bet365
Draw: 15/2 at Victor Chandler
Copenhagen to win: 20/1 at BetFred

Not many would have expected to see Copenhagen topping Group D after a couple of matches. TO their credit though, the Danes have done what Barcelona have failed to do, and that is win their opening two matches. What is more pleasing about the performances of the Danes, is that they have really ran a tight ship and kept two clean sheets with good, organised defensive displays. While the win against Panathinaikos was somewhat expected, holding on to a 1-0 against Rubin showed some good mettle. With Barcelona trailing Real Madrid in La Liga, and after only managing a 1-1 draw away at Rubin on match day two, the mighty Catalan side really need a victory here. It looks as if it is not going to be as comfortable as a ride as they would have thought when the draw was made. Anything less than a win for Barcelona would really set the cat amongst the pigeons and in situations like this, your football betting is generally well served by backing the favourites to come through any little awkward tricky patch. A good away win would put Barcelona firmly in the driving seat of Group D, in which they sit in second place at the moment, two points behind Copenhagen. Barcelona will have home advantage left against Copenhagen and Rubin still to come.
Tip: Away win

Saturday 27^th February

English Premier League

Birmingham City v Wigan Athletic

Birmingham have stuttered of late after a fantastic run of games unbeaten so they will be determined to get back on track and to winning ways when they host Wigan at St Andrews.

Alex McLeish has worked wonders with his Birmingham side after winning promotion to the top flight last season. He bought shrewdly with the acquisitions of Scott Dann, Roger Johnson, Christian Benitez and Barry Ferguson all coming in during the summer transfer window. All 4 have been exceptional for the most part and played a huge part in City’s 15 match unbeaten run earlier in the season. These 4, along with Joe Hart, Lee Bowyer and Cameron Jerome have built an excellent spine down the centre of the side which has made them resilient, hard to beat and disciplined. Their strength is shown with them having the joint best home defensive record in the league, losing just 8 goals in 13 matches thus far, which has resulted in them losing only 2 at St Andrews. Their record against sides below them in the table at home has been good, with wins over Wolves, West Ham, Blackburn, Sunderland and Portsmouth already. Bolton are the only team currently below Brum who have escaped with all 3 points – it took a late goal for this to occur.

Wigan are still in the thick of a relegation battle after going on a run of 6 games without a win in the league. Roberto Martinez’s side suffered a heavy defeat in their most recent game against Tottenham at home. The first goal in a 3-0 reverse was blatantly offside but it shouldn’t mask the fact that Wigan offered nothing in an attacking sense and looked decidedly weak, slow and cumbersome at the back. Unsurprisingly the have only scored 3 goals in their last 6 matches which doesn’t bode well for Saturday as they were playing against far weaker defences than the only they’ll be up against at St Andrews. Part of Martinez’s problems have been the lack of goals but the main problem is their porous defence. Wigan have the 2^nd worst away defence in the Premier League, the only above them in this table is Burnley who haven’t won away from home all season. Wigan’s away record isn’t too bad for a team fighting relegation as they have been victorious 3 times on the road already this season. Their wins have come against Wolves, Aston Villa and Burnley. The win over Villa was a freak result in the sense that it was the opening day of the season and they have never looked like emulating such a win again.

McLeish’s side are so good at frustrating the bigger teams so it will be interesting to see if they adapt this style of play and take the game to the visitors. If they do change and be more expansive, it could mean they leave space for the likes of Hugo Rodallega and Charles N’Zogbia. I think McLeish is too canny for that and he’ll stick to his side strengths of having two compact units of 4 and trying to hit the away side on the break using the pace of Benitez and Jerome. Both players should relish the prospect of playing against Gary Caldwell and Titus Bramble. Both are very awkward when up against pace and power in my opinion, especially Caldwell. The Scottish international is a good reader of the game and his distribution isn’t the worst but he’s not physical enough for a centre half which could prove to be Wigan’s downfall come the end of the season.

Birmingham have won both games against Wigan at St Andrews in recent years and they will have targeted this match as one where they can get back to winning ways. They’ve not lost a home game since that defeat to Bolton back in September and I can’t see a poor Wigan side altering that statistic come 5pm on Saturday. Birmingham will be pushing for their best finish in the league for a long time and I think they’ll get another 3 points in this fixture.

My selection: Birmingham to beat Wigan

Best odds available: Evens available with Betfred

English Premier League

Burnley v Portsmouth

It will be Premier League first on Saturday when Burnley take on the first top flight side in England to go into administration – Portsmouth.

Brian Laws took the reigns from Owen Coyle in January and has tasted victory once thus far – a 2-1 win over West Ham in their last home match. For all their failings on the road (and there have been many) their home form is still more than decent with 6 wins and 4 draws from the 12 games played at Turf Moor this season. The only team to beat them at home, other than Wigan, were Chelsea at the end of last month, and even that was a close run thing. They are most definitely difficult to beat on their own patch. They are also beginning to get key players back at the right stage of the season with Martin Paterson returning last week and Steven Caldwell also getting back to fitness.

Portsmouth have had a disastrous season already and it’s set to get worse tomorrow (Friday) when they officially enter administration and automatically incur a 9 point penalty deduction. They’re already 7 points adrift at the bottom so when the penalty is incurred they are as good as relegated. It’s a shame for the players, supporters and the likes of Avram Grant who have done nothing to deserve such problems, but for the likes of Peter Storrie and the multiple owners who have tried to make a quick buck and totally mis-managed the finances of the  club in the last few years, it’s nothing more than justice. You simply can’t break the rules so extremely and expect to get away with it in the long run. They’ll go down because they deserve to. On the field Pompey have 1 win and 10 defeats from 13 away games and have lost 7 of their last 8 away league games.

Laws and Burnley are running out of games between now and the end of the season and they know that Saturday’s game is a must win if they are to survive their maiden season in the Premier League. Home games will be vital in their bid, especially home games against sides in and around their own position in the league. Pompey are the only side below them in the league at this point but it’s not all bad, only 4 points separate 7 positions and a win on Saturday could arguably see the Claret’s move to 14^th providing other results go their way,

You expect nothing else other than Portsmouth to give 100% on Saturday as they have done in every match this season, but the hype, attention and scandal surrounding the club at this moment is bound to have an affect. They have struggled on the road for the whole season and as I have already proven, Turf Moor isn’t the easiest of hunting grounds.

Burnley need the points more and I think their desire will prove to be too much for a club in crisis.

My selection: Burnley to beat Portsmouth

Best odds available: 6/5 available once again with Betfred

Sunday 28^th February

Scottish Premier League

Rangers v Celtic

It’s derby weekend once again in Glasgow when Celtic travel across the city to take on their bitter city rivals at Ibrox.

Rangers go into the match with a 7 point lead, a game in hand an 20 goals better off in terms of goal difference. The league really is theirs to throwaway and it will be a surprise if they don’t make it back to back league championships in May. Their team is not the greatest to watch, they don’t play free flowing football but their style of play is effective. They have a strong goalkeeper and defence, a hard working midfield and a good partnership upfront with Kenny Miller and Kris Boyd. They are undefeated at home this season and have already defeated Celtic in the league earlier this season – a 2-1 win back in October. Manager Walter Smith is likely to have a fully fit squad to choose from with Allan McGregor likely to take his place in goals despite being assaulted last Saturday in Glasgow. Smith will more than likely line up 4-4-2 and try to overpower Celtic using Lee McCulloch and Kevin Thompson as his midfield partnership.

Celtic are massive underdogs in the league but anything can happen in this fixture as we all know. They have played Rangers off the park twice already but only have a single point to show for their efforts. The last match between these two was the most one sided game I’ve watched in a long time – if it a was a boxing match it would have been stopped at half time. With a mix of shocking refereeing and some horrible finishing from Celtic, the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Celtic have failed to record back to back wins in the league since the beginning of December which is a damning statistic only made worse hen you consider it’s against teams such as Aberdeen, Kilmarnock and Falkirk. Tony Mowbray knows his side are in last chance saloon on Sunday and it’s up to them whether they take it or not.

Marc Antoine Fortune has been a big player for Celtic of late and his performance in the last game against Rangers was excellent. He dominated both of their centre halves and they couldn’t cope with his pace and power. His partner that day was Giorgios Samaras who missed a glut of glorious chances which were created because Fortune pulled the defence all over the place. On Sunday his partner will be Robbie Keane so it’s a massive difference in terms of quality, ability and bottle. Keane has done it all throughout his career and he will be desperate to score for his beloved Celt’s at Ibrox, providing of cours it is in a Celtic win.

Celtic are due a victory over Rangers but I normally refrain from betting on the outcome of these games because they are so hard to predict. I think the 9/4 on offer for an away win is too big as I strongly believe that Celtic have far more quality in their ranks, so I wouldn’t put anyone off backing them. The bet I will advise is for Keane to score at anytime. Fortune will do a lot of the ‘ugly work’ for his strike partner and Keane’s movement and quick thinking should seem him have at least a couple of good chances. He’s also scored in his last two games for Celtic so the signs are there that he is hitting top form as he get’s his sharpness.

My selection: Robbie Keane to score at anytime

Best odds available: 21/10 available with PaddyPower

KTF

GROUP E
Liverpool v Fiorentina
Lyon v Debrecen
The only that is left to be decided in Group E of the Champions League this season, is who finishes top. The Viola of Fiorentina are in pole position going into Wednesday’s round of matches, enjoying a two point cushion over French outfit Lyon. A draw should just about be good enough for Fiorentina to go through to the next round with the benefit of being drawn at home for winning the group. Lyon have the easiest of the games, against bottom side Debrecen who haven’t managed to muster up a point yet, despite giving Liverpool some scares along the way in their encounters. This is an unexpected result to this group, as Liverpool were strong favourites going into the competition, but the sparkling form of Fiorentina has largely turned the group on its head. Lyon is a good European side and as expected will take their place in the next round. Liverpool, with only two wins are concreted into third place, which means that they cannot progress because of Lyon’s far superior goal difference, despite the clubs being able to end up on the same points if Lyon happen to lose while the Reds thump Fiorentina by a good six or seven goal margin. It isn’t going to happen, so the only action Liverpool are going to see in Europe in the new year, is in the Europa League, which is the consolation prize for finishing third.

Liverpool to win: 11/10 at Bet365
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Fiorentina to win: 14/5 at ExtraBet

Lyon to win: 2/9 at Expekt
Draw: 11/2 at Totesport
Debrecen to win: 14/1 at SkyBet

GROUP F
Inter Milan v Rubin Kazan
Dynamo Kiev v Barcelona
The best group of the Champions League this year without doubt, both in quality and excitement. Barcelona scored a huge 2-0 win over Inter Milan on Match Day five, which essentially not only kept their Champions League alive, but also put them in pole position in Group F. This group has been so tight, with a plethora of draws, some of them unexpected. Rubin Kazan held Inter Milan, and the Russian Champions also beat the mighty Barcelona in one of the shocks of the competition. All of this means that anyone can still qualify from Group F though, with Barcelona on 8, Inter Milan on 6, Rubin Kazan on 6 and Dynamo Kiev on 5. So, if the Ukrainians beat Champions League holders Barcelona and someone wins in out of Inter and Rubin, then those winners will go through with Barcelona. However if Inter and Rubin only draw (both have drawn three of their five matches already), and Dynamo win, then Dynamo and Barcelona go through. It all boils down to the fact that Dynamo, above all need a big win. They won’t overtake Barcelona’s goal difference despite finishing on the same points as them if they win. So that means Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan could get through with just a draw as long as Dynamo don’t win. Inter, Rubin Kazan and Dynamo Kiev all have the same -1 goal difference. Anything could happen in this group, and Barcelona didn’t have any problems getting past Dynamo Kiev on Match Day when they won 2-0. It was the Russian Champions Rubin Kazan, who have recently reclaimed the title, who gave Barcelona all of their problems, and could threaten Inter Milan’s progress. Keep an eye on this group, it could be an explosive finish.

Inter Milan to win: 8/15 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 16/5 at SkyBet
Rubin Kazan to win: 7/1 at SkyBet

Dynamo Kiev to win: 5/1 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 11/4 at Boylesports
Barcelona to win: 4/6 at Paddy Power

GROUP G
Stuttgart v Unirea Urziceni
Sevilla v Rangers
German side Stuttgart going into their final Champions League match under the guidance of a new manager. Christian Gross, who will be remembered, or not as the case may be, for his days at Premier League side Tottenham, has taken over at the helm due to Stuttgart’s stuttering season. He replaces Marcus Babbel. They are the only ones who can stop a surprise entity qualifying for the knockout stages, as Dan Petrescu’s Unirea Urziceni stand on the threshold of making history. Spaniards Sevilla top the group and have looked a class act, up until Match Day Five, when they suffered a shock 1-0 home defeat against the Romanians. That win for Petrescu’s men saw them take control in second place, two points behind Sevilla and two ahead of Stuttgart. So, just a draw for Unirea Urziceni  against Stuttgart will see them qualify with the Spaniards. Sevilla host Rangers, who they thrashed 4-1 at Ibrox, so in all probability it’ll be another tough night for the Scots. Rangers have shipped 12 goals and have only picked up two points in a disappointing Champions League campaign, and cannot even finish in third place which would have extended their European season. Whether or not Unirea Urziceni can make it to the knock-out stages is one of the biggest questions of the night on Wednesday. It would be a fantastic achievement, and standing on two wins and two drawn matches, they are there on credit having played both competitive and slick football.

Stuttgart to win: 8/13 at BetFred
Draw: 11/4 at William Hill
Unirea Urziceni to win: 11/2 at SkyBet

Sevilla to win: 4/11 at Bet365
Draw: 4/1 at BetFred
Rangers to win: 10/1 at Stan James

GROUP H
Olympiacos v Arsenal
Standard Liege v AZ Alkmaar
Arsenal have this league sewn up, without being caused too much bother. Now it is all down to who can finish second in Group H and join them in the next round. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately for Olympiacos, they get to finish their Group Matches against Arsenal. The Gunners beat them 2-0 at the Emirates, but have shown their vulnerability lately, and Arsene Wenger is fighting a back log of injuries after losing most notably, Tomas Rosicky to injury on the weekend. With knocks picked up by several other players as well, and missing top striker Robin Van Persie, Wenger will be scratching his head, but will be thankful that Arsenal don’t need to do anything in Wednesday’s game. Olympiacos could benefit greatly, if Wenger throws his youngsters into action, for the Gunners have a big game against Liverpool in the Premier League on the weekend. Belgians Standard Liege are the only team who can catch Olympiacos in second place, but they will need a win over disappointing Dutch side AZ Alkmaar to do so. A win for Standard Liege and Arsenal, could put Olympiacos in peril, as it will come down to goal difference, and Standard have a slight advantage in that department. Olympiacos have struggled for goals, and they will need to break out on Wednesday night to try and progress in the Champions league. Anything less than a win for Standard Liege will leave them short, and a defeat would mean that they will get pushed out of third place altogether.

Olympiacos to win: 11/10 at William Hill
Draw: 23/10 at Boylesports
Arsenal to win: 10/3 at Coral

Standard Liege to win: 18/19 at Expekt
Draw: 12/5 at Ladbrokes
AZ Alkmaar to win: 10/3 at BetFred

Group E
Debrecen v Liverpool
Fiorentina v Lyon
It really is getting down to the wire right now in Group E and Liverpool’s fate is really hanging in the balance. They are travelling off to Hungary to face Debrecen, and fortunately for the Reds, who are in no good form of their own, have to face the only team beneath them in Group E. Rafa Benitez needs a win from his men, without fail. Failure to pick up three points will mean that their Champions League campaign will have fallen at the first hurdle, something which was unimaginable at the start of the competition. Even two wins from their remaining two games may not be enough for Liverpool, as in some respect, their fate is not even in their own hands. Fiorentina only a need a point in order to reach a total of 10. Liverpool can only get ten points if they win both of their games, however, their goal difference, compared to that of the Italians, is not good. In fact Liverpool are -2, and Fiorentina +5 after thumping Debrecen twice. Liverpool need to dish out a hammering to Debrecen, but have injury worries and look very light up front. Many have underestimated Fiorentina, and the Italians are pushing hard for top spot. Lyon are a good experienced side in Europe, and are in pole position. They go to Italy looking for the win that will secure them top spot, and leave the door open for Liverpool to get second spot. The Viola will be without Adrian Mutu for the rest of the campaign likely, but a win for them over Lyon will see them qualify, something that would put all but one nail in Liverpool’s Champions League coffin. Defeat for Lyon would leave them on ten points, but with one home fixture against Debrecen to come. Liverpool simply need to win and to see Fiorentina lose, so that there is some hope going into Match Day six.

Lyon P4, W3, D1, L0 Pts10
Fiorentina P4, W3, D0, L1 Pts9
Liverpool P4, W1, D1, L2 Pts 4
Debrecen P4, W0, D0, L4 Pts 0

Match Prices
Debrecen to win: 9/1 at Paddy Power
Draw: 4/1 at Paddy Power
Liverpool to win: 4/11 at Bet365

Fiorentina to win: 11/10 at Bet365
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Lyon to win: 11/4 at Bet365

Betting Tips:
Liverpool to win by 2 goals: 11/4 at BlueSquare
Fiorentina -1 Asian Handicap: 9/4 at Bet365

TO WIN GROUP E
Lyon – 2/7 at SkyBet
Fiorentina – 16/5 at ExtraBet

GROUP F
Rubin Kazan v Dynamo Kiev
Barcelona v  Inter Milan
No-one would have envisaged Group F being as close as it is with just two match days to go. The most familiar face in the group is not at the top. In fact they are down in third place. Who are we talking about? Current Champions League holders Barcelona. This is one of the most intense groups with all four teams still in with a chance of qualifying, as they have all won just one game each, somewhat surprising with the might of the Spanish giants alongside Italian Serie A leaders Inter Milan competing in it. Inter are the only unbeaten team in the group, with one of the biggest shocks of the Champions League coming when Russian Champions Rubin Kazan beat the Spanish champions. Now it is time again for the two giants of the group to meet again, this time in Spain, with the first meeting between them ending in a disappointing 0-0 draw, after the much hyped coming together of Inter’s Samuel E’to and Barca’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic after they swapped clubs in the summer. This means that Rubin Kazan, who have just won the Russian League for the second time in a row, face off against Dynamo Kiev. It is more than possible that Barcelona could be on the brink of elimination if results go a certain way on Tuesday night. If Inter win, they will qualify, and if Rubin also beat Dynamo, then that will put them three points clear of Barcelona in second place going into the last round of matches. That is almost unthinkable, but this group is excitingly close, and is going down to the wire on Match Day 6. Barcelona are in a tight battle with Real Madrid at the top of La Liga, while Inter a five points clear at the top of Serie A. Dynamo Kiev are running away with the Ukrainian league, and coupled with re-crowned champions of Russia Rubin Kazan, this is one tough group with everything up for grabs. Dynamo Kiev ran out 3-1 winners over Rubin Kazan when they met on Match Day 1, and will be hoping for a similar result when they visit Russia.

Inter Milan P4, W1, D3, L0 Pts 6
Rubin Kazan P4, W1, D2, L1 Pts5
Barcelona P4, W1, D2, L1 Pts 5
Dynamo Kiev P4, W1, D1, L2 Pts 4

Match Prices
Inter Milan to win: 9/2 at BetFred
Draw: 5/2 at Totesport
Barcelona to win: 4/5 at Bet365

Rubin Kazan to win: Evens at Coral
Draw: 12/5 at Bet365
Dynamo Kiev to win: 16/5 at SkyBet

Betting Tips:
Inter v Barcelona: Winning Margin Score Draw – 4/1 at Bet365
Rubin Kazan -1 Asian Handicap: 7/4 at Bet365

TO WIN GROUP F
Barcelona – 4/5 at Skybet
Inter Milan – 7/4 at Bet365
Rubin Kazan – 10/1 at SportingBet
Dynamo Kiev – 33/1 at Victor Chandler

Group G
Rangers v Stuttgart
Unirea Urziceni v Sevilla
Spanish side Sevilla are the runaway class team in Group G, but many were hoping from a little more out of Scottish side Rangers. This isn’t a great group, and Rangers have almost played their way out of the competition. They are bottom of the group, and desperately need a good win over Stuttgart, who themselves are looking horridly out of form in their domestic league. Neither Rangers or Stuttgart have a win between them in the Champions League, with the Germans having drawn three of their four games, including the first meeting against Rangers. Back at Ibrox, Rangers need to take advantage of the home fixture, keep things tight at the back and pile more misery on the German side. A win for Walter Smith’s men will keep them in touch with Unirea Urziceni who are sat in second place, five points behind Sevilla. A surprise win for Dan Petrescu’s Romanians over Sevilla would essentially put Rangers out because of goal difference factors, but Sevilla, despite slumping to a 1-1 draw with Stuttgart on Match Day 4, are no slouches, holding third place in La Liga behind only Barcelona and Real Madrid. They are within just three points of top spot there, and that is some indicator of just how good they are, and are not to be underestimated in the competition. They have Brazilian goal scoring machine Luis Fabiano at their disposal and is one of the many reasons why they are enjoying deserved success. Unirea Urziceni are battling well, and putting up some good performances and are deservedly in with a chance of taking second spot in the Group.

Sevilla P4, W3, D1, L0 Pts 10
Unirea Urziceni P4, W1, D2, L1 Pts5
Stuttgart P4, W0, D3, L1 Pts3
Rangers P4, W0, D2, L2 Pts2

Match Prices
Rangers to win: 7/4 at Stan James
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Stuttgart to win: 13/8 at Bet365

Unirea Urziceni to win: 21/10 at Bet365
Draw: 23/10 at Boylesports
Sevilla to win: 13/10 at 888Sport

Betting Tips:
Unirea Urziceni v Sevilla – Under 2.5 Goals 7/10 at Bet365
Rangers Draw No Bet 5/6 at Blue Square

Group H
AZ Alkmaar v Olympiacos
Arsenal v Standard Liege
The race is on for second place in Group H, pretty much the way it was expected to be from the off. Arsenal were expected to win this group with relative ease, and that is what will transpire. They can clinch the group with a win over Standard Liege, something that will also be expected to happen at the Emirates on Tuesday night. Arsenal lost at home to Sunderland on the weekend though, and they are without the influential figure of Robin Van Persie up front, as he got injured playing for Holland. The Gunners will seriously miss him, and so will be reliant on Croatian striker Eduardo, and hope that his troubled time at the Emirates because of injury, is long behind him. Arsenal made hard work of beating Standard Liege when they met in Belgium, having to come back from 2-0 down. It should be a different story this time around, as Arsene Wenger will expect nothing less than a victory against Liege, who do actually have designs on second place with a win. Greek side Olympiacos hold that honour of being in second place behind Arsenal, something else which was expected in one of the more predictable groups. If the Greeks can pick up a win against the disappointing AZ Alkmaar, then they will be joining Arsenal in the stage of the competition. Olympiacos beat Alkmaar 1-0 at home on the opening night of the competition. On the other hand, a win for the Dutch Champions, who are nowhere near as good as they were in the domestic league last year, would really make for an interesting Match Day 6.

Arsenal P4, W3, D1, L0 Pts10
Olympiacos P4, W2, D0, L2 Pts6
Standard Liege P4, W1, D1, L2 Pts5
AZ Alkmaar P4, W0, D2, L2 Pts2

Match Prices
Arsenal to win: 1/3 at Bet365
Draw: 9/2 at SkyBet
Standard Liege to win: 11/1 at Paddy Power

AZ Alkmaar to win: 6/5 at Expekt
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Olympiacos to win: 13/5 at Bet365

Betting Tip:
Olympiacos -0.25 Asian Handicap – 9/4 at Bet365
Arsenal -1 Asian Handicap – 1/2 at Bet365

TO WIN GROUP H
Arsenal – 1/8 at SkyBet
Olympiacos – 18/1 at ExtraBet

Tuesday, November 24
Kick Off: 7.45pm

Rangers head back into Europe, having redeemed themselves a little bit on Match Day 4. The battling Scots earned themselves a 1-1 draw against Unirea Urziceni, after suffering a heavy 4-1 defeat the hands of the Romanians at home in their previous game. With Group leader’s Sevilla being held to a surprising 1-1 draw against German side Stuttgart, it means that Rangers actually have a realistic chance to play their way into qualification contention. They will need to overcome Stuttgart on Tuesday night though as a first hurdle, but they will take heart that they managed to come away from Germany with a 1-1 tie on Match Day 1. A win for the Scots will put them up onto 5 points, and with Sevilla expecting to beat Unirea Urziceni in the other group fixture, the victory would draw Rangers level on points with the Romanians, albeit with a worse goal difference.

The road ahead for qualification through the remaining fixtures is still going to be somewhat tough for Walter Smith’s men, as they will need to pull out some kind of result against Sevilla in the final round of matches, who are a very strong side. Rangers will go into the fixture at Ibrox on the back of domestic 3-0 win against Kilmarnock. The difference in class in which Rangers are facing between domestic and European competition, is highlighted by the fact that they haven’t lost a domestic game since March of this year, totalling 27 games. Their only two defeats during that time have come against Sevilla and Unirea Urziceni in the Champions League. They have some injury worries, but have been quite resilient about getting through games.

Walter Smith should not be too worried, but cautious all the same about taking down the Germans, even though both teams are without a win in the competition so far. Stuttgart have not managed to rally to a victory in their last ten outings, having only picked up two wins in the league all season, and sit third from bottom in the Bundesliga. They are struggling for goals with only four tallied in their last nine matches. It has been a rapid fall from grace from last season for the Germans. Rangers are sitting atop of the Scottish Premier league, in spite of going through a run of games where they could not hit the back of the net themselves. The Scots need to be on top of their game on Tuesday, as anything less than a win would put them in real jeopardy. They need to win to give themselves any kind of a chance of pinching that second qualification spot behind the strength of the Spaniards Sevilla.

Rangers to win: 7/4 at Stan James
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Stuttgart to win: 13/8 at Bet365

Betting Advice: While a draw will not mean curtains for Rangers’ hopes of qualifying, a win would put them in much stronger standing. The other factor they need is for Unirea Urziceni not to pull of a surprise victory against Sevilla, as that would put Rangers teetering on the absolute brink of elimination. It needs an all out brave attacking performance from Rangers, as the Germans are definitely there for the taking on current form. A draw is more than possible here, with the Bookies still favouring the Germans, so whichever way you want to swing it, a good bet on Rangers would be a Draw No Bet 5/6 at Blue Square

GROUP E
Fiorentina v Debreceni
Lyon v Liverpool

Fascinating group this one. Liverpool started this campaign as favourites to win the group, but are now scrapping for their Champions League lives. Fiorontina are fifth in Serie A, and big haired striker Stevan Jovetic has been making quite a name for himself. It was the unmistakable hirsute wonder bagged himself a brace in the victory over Liverpool, and the striker is drawing a lot of acclaim across Europe. The Viola also have Adrian Mutu and Alberto Gilardino to choose from up front, and they have a comfortable next game on Wednesday, when Hungarians Debreceni come to Italy. Debreceni have not made much of a show on their Champions League debut and can say goodbye to any romantic dreams of progressing. They were drawn in a hard league though, but Wednesday’s opponents Fiorentina may have been underestimated by many, especially with the more famous Italian teams from Milan taking part. Liverpool’s problems have been well document and won’t be dwelt on too much here. They have one win in seven matches in all competitions, are without Steven Gerrard, and possibly without Fernando Torres. Rafa Benitez must be getting close to the dreaded vote of confidence, and Lyon, with home advantage are the kind of team which can punish you harshly. They are back to their powerful best, and are hunting down the French title and the Champions League. They are going well in both competitions and are clearly the class outfit in Group E. Both Lyon and Fiorentina are playing good football at the moment, and have a clear route to goal. Unfortunately, if all three English clubs are going to get through, Liverpool need to discover that touch, that inspiration, that unity which saw them beat Manchester United comfortably. Struggling against bad form and having to go to Lyon though, is not ideal. Could be a huge night for the Reds. Lyon and Fiorentina won on the weekend. Liverpool and Debreceni did not.

Group E
Lyon – P3    W3    D0    L0    Pts9
Fiorentina – P3    W2    D0    L1    Pts6
Liverpool – P3    W1    D0    L2    Pts3
Debrecen – P3    W0    D0    L3    Pts0

Match Prices
Fiorentina to win: 1/6 at Bet365
Draw: 13/2 at SkyBet
Debreceni to win: 18/1 at SkyBet

Lyon to win: 7/5 at Totesport
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Liverpool to win: 21/10 at Coral

Betting Tips:
1st Half/2nd Half Result – Draw/Fiorentina: 3/1 at William Hill
Lyon to win 2-0: 10/1 at Paddy Power

To Win Group E
Lyon – 3/10 at William Hill
Fiorentina – 4/1 at Paddy Power
Liverpool – 25/1 at Blue Square

GROUP F
Rubin Kazan v Barcelona
Dynamo Kiev v Inter Milan

Rubin, the Russian champions, and the team which look set to retain that title, caused one of the big upsets of the competition by beating Barcelona, the favourites to win the Champions League, in their own back yard. That happened on Match day three, to leave the Group in a very precarious position. All in all this has been the most hotly contested group, with Rubin, Barcelona and Kiev on four points, and Inter Milan winless at the bottom with just three. Surely nobody saw that coming at the halfway stage. Rubin have been a bit of bright spark, and have played their way into contention for qualifying from the group. They held Inter to a draw in Russia, and then pulled off the momentous win at the Nou Camp, with goals in both halves of the match. They have given themselves a great deal of hope now, and Barcelona will be the ones who will have to approach the game back in Russia with some caution. Barca are undefeated at the top of the Spanish League by one point over Real Madrid, and that is what made the loss against the Russian so spectacular. Combined with the 0-0 draw they could muster in the heavyweight battle against Inter Milan, the group is the tighest in the competition, with all sides in with a realistic chance of qualifying. Let’s no forget the impact that Dynamo Kiev are having on Group F as well. The Ukranians, top of their domestic league, and have the same record as Barcelona and Rubin in the Champions league. The game in Milan on Match day three produced an interesting 2-2 draw, and probably will not be giving Inter an easy ride when they face them again on Wednesday. Inter, who are flying away with Serie A at the moment, really need a win to get back on track, regardless of what happens in the other Group F match on Wednesday. Jose Mourinho will need all of his guile and wisdom to negotiate a tricky game, and to get his side back on track. This could still be a really close group come the end of Match day three. Barcelona should still win out in time, but their competition are keeping them on their toes.

Group F
Barcelona – P3    W1    D1    L1    Pts4
Dynamo – P3    W1    D1    L1    Pts4
Rubin – P3    W1    D1    L1    Pts4
Internazionale – P3    W0    D3    L0    Pts3

Match Prices
Rubin Kazan to win: 7/1 at SkyBet
Draw: 7/2 at Boylesports
Barcelona to win: 9/20 at Victor Chandler

Dynamo Kiev to win: 13/5 at Bet365
Draw: 12/5 at SkyBet
Inter Milan to win: 6/5 at Totesport

Betting tips:
Barcelona to win 2-1: 8/1 at Boylesports
Dynamo Kiev Draw No Bet: 6/4 at Stan James

To Win Group F
Barcelona – 1/2 at Totesport
Inter Milan – 4/1 at Extrabet
Dynamo Kiev – 14/1 at SkyBet
Rubin Kazan – 14/1 at Bet365

GROUP G
Unirea Urziceni v Rangers
Sevilla v Stuttgart

Spanish side Sevilla are sitting in third place in La Liga, and that will be a clear indicator of just how good they are. They look a powerful side, far more powerful than any of their Group G rivals at least. Three wins from three and averaging three goals a game definitely shows that. With another win over stuttering Stuttgart, Sevilla will be cruising out of the group stages. If the strong Sevilla side do that, having already won 3-1 comfortably in Germany, it would actually give Rangers a little helping hand. Rangers are struggling to cope with the quality of the group, which, aside from Sevilla there is not a lot of to be truthful. Stuttgart are going to be facing a relegation battle if they continue at the woeful pace they have been in their domestic league, and Unirea Urziceni, while all credit is due to them, for now they look second favourites to get out of the group, they are not the kind of team that is going to bother Barcelona, Chelsea or Real Madrid in any way shape or form. Rangers are without a win, and they desperately need one. Having already been beaten by the Romanians 3-1 at home though on Match day three, won’t give Walter Smith much heart. Another good win for the Romanians would see them unexpectedly on the brink of getting out of the group stages along with Sevilla. A disappointing group, but could have a small fairy tale in it for those who recall Chelsea favourite Dan Petrescu, who manages Unirea Urziceni. Sevilla and Urinea both won on the weekend, Rangers and Stuttgart both drew.

Group G
Sevilla – P3    W3    D0    L0    Pts9
Unirea Urziceni – P3    W1    D1    L1    Pts4
Stuttgart – P3    W0    D2    L1    Pts2
Rangers – P3    W0    D1    L2    Pts1

Match Prices:
Unirea Urziceni to win: Evens at BetFred
Draw: 5/2 at Bet365
Rangers to win: 3/1 at Coral

Sevilla to win: 1/2 at Stan James
Draw: 7/2 at Ladbrokes
Stuttgart to win: 7/1 at SkyBet

Betting tips:
Unirea Urziceni to win 1-0: 6/1 at 888Sport
Sevilla to win by 2 or more goals: 6/4 at Bet365

To Win Group G
Sevilla – 1/25 at Ladbrokes
Unirea Urziceni – 20/1 at Paddy Power
Stuttgart – 80/1 at Paddy Power
Rangers – 500/1 at Paddy Power

GROUP H
Arsenal v AZ Alkmaar
Standard Liege v Olympiacos

Belgian side Standard Liege only got in the competition because Barcelona won both La Liga and the Champions League last season, which opened up another spot. Sitting third in their domestic league, they were never going to pose a major threat, and whilst they have their moments of entertainment, it has completely panned out that way. Olympiacos will be happy about that, as they will look to capitalise on their 2-1 home victory over the Belgians, when they meet again on Wednesday in Greece. That win would secure the Greeks at least second place, and a comfortable one at that. In contrast to the groups with both Milan sides in them, this has been a lopsided group, with Arsenal head and shoulders above the other teams. Their draw against AZ Alkmaar in the previous match will be nothing more than a glitch, as they are bound to enact some attacking force revenge when the Dutch side visit the Emirates on Wednesday. This will be the first group to be settled, which will be a good thing for Arsenal, as it will take some pressure off and allow them to have time to get back injured players and push on in the Premier League. AZ Alkmaar was a name which promised much on the back of their successful domestic season, but their form has been a bit dismal lately, and are having a hard time keeping up any kind of pace. They are also missing their top scorer through injury, which won’t help their cause.

Group H
Arsenal – P3   W2    D1    L0    Pts7
Olympiacos – P3    W2    D0   L1    Pts6
AZ Alkmaar – P3    W0    D2    L1    Pts2
Standard Liege -P3    W0    D1    L2    Pts1

Match Prices
Arsenal to win: 1/5 at Stan James
Draw: 6/1 at Bet365
AZ Alkmaar to win: 16/1 at Paddy Power

Standard Liege to win: 5/4 at Blue Square
Draw: 5/2 at Skybet
Olympiacos to win: 12/5 at BetFred

Betting Tips:
Arsenal to win 2-0: 11/2 at BetFred
Draw No Bet Olympiacos – 11/8 at Boylesports

To Win Group H
Arsenal – 1/7 at Coral
Olympiacos – 8/1 at Extrabet
AZ Alkmaar – 50/1 at William Hill
Standard Liege – 150/1 at Paddy Power

Rangers need a change around in fortunes if they are going to have anything to cheer about in Europe come the end of Match Day four of the Champions League on Wednesday. After a 1-1 draw in the Scottish Premier League on Saturday, it left the Scottish powerhouses back in third place, behind Hibernian who they tied against. After going on a long stretch without being able to find the back of the net, Rangers have overcome that problem, but in Group G of the Champions League, the Scots are bottom with just one point from three games. Their last match was their biggest disaster, a heavy home defeat against Romanians Unirea Urziceni. That 4-1 thumping, a game which Rangers boss Walter Smith would have been targeting as a definite three points, have left his team out in the cold.

If they do not get a positive result in the reverse fixture on Wednesday, then it will be curtains on their Champions League ambitions. Ex Chelsea player Dan Petrescu, who manages the Romanian side, has guided them into second place behind group favourites Sevilla. A win for Unirea Urziceni will keep them in the hunt for second place, and if Sevilla beat Stuttgart on Wednesday too, then the Romanians will only likely need another point from their final two games to make their first Champions League appearance a momentous one, by getting out of the Group Stage. While their goal difference is floundering a little, a win on the other hand for Rangers, would throw the group wide open. They could draw level on points with Wednesday’s opponents on four, and whatever happens with Stuttgart, who are on two points at the moment, it will be a close race for second.

This is a crucial match for Ranger’s season, but they will have familiar faces missing from their midfield as they look for their first win on the Champions League. Midfielder Lee McCulloch picked up an injury in the weekend’s draw against Hibernian which keeps him out of the trip to Bucharest, and Walter Smith will not be able to call on the services of Pedro Mendes or Madjid Bougherra to select for the contest. In an incredibly tight domestic league, Unirea Urziceni are actually down in seventh place, just one point off the leaders though. They go into the Rangers match on the back of a domestic weekend win, and will be full of confidence that they can touch on creating some wonderful history for themselves, with a vital three points.

Unirea Urziceni to win: Evens at BetFred
Draw: 5/2 at Bet365
Rangers to win: 3/1 at Coral

Betting Advice: Injuries and less than sparkling form have been hurting Rangers. After battling well in their Match day one fixture against Stuttgart, it’s all gone a bit downhill for Walter Smith. At the half way point now, a win is crucial, and this that outcome is still going to be the most likely to be achieved against Wednesday’s opponents. They will know that they have to win, but it is hard to see where that spark is going to come from in order to gain a tough away win. A draw won’t be a disaster for Rangers, but it will still be an immense uphill battle for them to qualify.
Unirea Urziceni to win 1-0: 6/1 at 888Sport

Group E
Debrecen v Fiorentina
Liverpool v Lyon
It is Match Day three in the Champions League and already the action has thrown up some major suprises. Italian side Fiorentina gave themselves a massive boost on Match Day Two, when they turned over visitors Liverpool 2-0. That put them on level points with the English team, and will have the chance to double their points against bottom of the Group Debrecen. The Hungarians have yet to score a goal, and suffered a 4-0 thumping against Lyon last time out. Fiorenitna, who themselves lost to Lyon, can leave Liverpool reeling if the Reds fall to Lyon. The win for the Italians should be no problem in coming. While Debrecen have looked more awkward and stubborn in their resistance, Fiorentina are sauntering along nicely in Serie A, sitting in fourth place in what could be a tight race. The big game of the night is at Anfield, where Liverpool need to get themselves back on track. They have suffered three straight defeats in a row, and can ill afford another one. Defeat here could be disastrous as it will more than likely leave them chasing just second place along with the Italians.

Match Prices:
Liverpool to win: 5/6 at Bet365
Draw: 5/2 at Blue Square
Lyon to win: 4/1 at SkyBet

Fiorentina to win: 2/5 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 7/2 at SkyBet
Debrecen: 33/4 at Expekt

Betting Tips:
Fiorentina to win 1-0: 6/1 at SportingBet
Lyon to win 1-0: 12/1 at SkyBet

To Win Group E
Lyon – 17/20 at SportingBet
Fiorentina: 15/8 at SkyBet
Liverpool: 5/1 at ExtraBet
Debrecen: 750/1 at Ladbrokes

Group F
Barcelona v Rubin Kazan
Inter Milan v Dynamo Kiev
Who’d a thunk it? The mighty Inter Milan, top of Serie A, were humbled on their visit to Russia, where their 10 men had to hang on for a 1-1 draw against Rubin Kazan. The other Milan team would have found that hilarious if they had not been suffering an even more embarrassing result, losing 1-0 at home to FC Zurich. Now they have to face ex-San Siro AC Milan hero, Andriy Shevchenko as Dynamo Kiev roll into town. Shevchenko netted 14 times against Inter when he was in AC colours. Inter Milan boss Jose Mourinho will not have taken that Match Day Two result lying down. You can only imagine the dressing room after that. Inter have bounced back with a couple of good wins in their domestic league, and they still sit top with only one defeat. They are a lot stronger than that European hiccup suggests. But with just two points from two games in the Champions League, it is time for them to get going. They are currently one point behind Tuesday’s opponents Dynamo. Barcelona, not surprisingly are top of Group F. The favourites to relcaim the Champions League title, will hope to do a better job than Inter against the Russian champions when they face them on Tuesday. As much as the previous result will have lifted Rubin, history is not going to repeat itself and they will be under some of the severest pressure they will have faced.

Match Prices
Barcelona to win: 1/8 at Expekt
Draw: 15/2 at Stan James
Rubin Kazan to win: 22/1 at ExtraBet

Inter Milan to win: 4/9 at BetFred
Draw: 18/5 at SkyBet
Dynamo Kiev: 17/2 at Stan James

Betting Tips:
Barcelona to win 2-0: 11/2 at BlueSquare
Dynamo Kiev Draw No Bet: 11/2 at Paddy Power

To Win Group F
Barcelona – 1/4 at Boylesport
Inter Milan – 9/2 at Ladbrokes
Dynamo Kiev – 25/1 at Totesport
Rubin Kazan – 80/1 at Paddy Power

Group G
Rangers v Unirea Urziceni
Stuttgart v Sevilla
Big night for Rangers in Group G, as they will go in search of their first win of the new campaign. They need it too. Defeat would be something of a disaster, as you can expect Sevilla to overcome the king of the draws, Stuttgart in the other match. Rangers, with just one point from two games, need to take all three points to get themselves back into contention. A defeat and they will be stuck at the bottom with a mountain to climb at the halfway stage. Sevilla are looking like hotshots and could be a great outside bet to reach at least the semi finals. Another Spanish powerhouse, Sevilla are third in the Spanish league, just three points behind Real Madrid (who they recently beat), and four behind Barcelona. That intimates that they are very strong team, and other Champions League teams should be wary of them. They lost on Saturday and that was after a run of seven straight victories, and coping with a lot of injuries. Watch out for them, and watch out for Luis Fabiano who leads the Champions League with assists. A classy outfit.

Match Prices:
Rangers to win: 5/6 at Blue Square
Draw: 13/5 at Bet365
Unirea Urziceni to win: 4/1 at SkyBet

Stuttgart to win: 11/4 at Coral
Draw: 5/2 at Stan James
Sevilla to win: 11/10 at SkyBet

Betting Tips:
Rangers to draw: 13/5 at Bet365
Sevilla to win 2-1: 8/1 at SkyBet

To Win Group G
Sevilla – 1/5 at Stan James
Stuttgart – 15/2 at Paddy Power
Rangers – 22/1 at Paddy Power
Unirea Urziceni- 80/1 at Paddy Power

Group H
Alkmaar v Arsenal
Olyimpiacos v Standard Liege
After suriving a potential Match Day One banana skin, Arsenal should cruise to winning this Group, and there does not appear to be much anyone else is going to do about it. Much has been said about Dutch Champions Alkmaar and their home record in Europe, but they are on a slump of form, especially when compared to Tuesday’s opponents Arsenal. The Gunners have their injury problems, but can still field a team which can pass rings around most opponents. This will probably be their toughest test, but no more difficicult than playing a bottom half of the table Premier League team. They will come through to make it three wins from three. With Arsenal’s dominance, there could be a tight and hotly contest race for second place in Group H, but it is unlikely to pan out that way. The favourites for second spot would be Greek side Olympiakos, and they can go a long way to making themselves comfortable by beating Standard Liege. The Belgium team’s 1-1 tie with Alkmaar has left both teams on just one point, and having to travel to Greece is should, for all intents and purposes settle positions in the Group, especially if Arsenal win.

Match Prices:
Alkmaar to win: 6/1 at Boylesports
Draw: 3/1 at Bet365
Arsenal to win: 8/15 at Totesport

Olympiakos to win: 5/6 at BetFred
Draw: 5/1 at Bet365
Standard Liege to win: 15/4 at Expekt

Betting Tip:
Arsenal -2 Asian Handicap: 11/4 at Bet365
Olympiakos to win 2-0: 7/1 at SportingBet

To Win Group H
Arsenal – 1/10 at Blue Square
Olympiakos – 14/1 at Paddy Power
AZ Alkmaar – 25/1 at Paddy Power
Standard Liege – 40/1 at Paddy Power

Rangers, after a promising start in their Match Day One fixture, which saw a 1-1 draw away at German side Stuttgart, the Scottish side suffered badly in their last game. A home 4-1 defeat by Sevilla left Walter Smith’s Rangers reeling at the bottom of Group G. However, Match Day three gives them the opportunity to really make some inroads and claim second place. They are currently level on 1 point with Tuesday night’s opposition, Unirea Urziceni. The Romanians who won their domestic league for the first time ever last year, have not looked out of their depth so far, despite only picking up a draw. Led by ex-Chelsea favourite Dan Petrescu, Uriziceni may prove a difficult challenge for the Scots to overcome.

Rangers have the luxury of this game being at Ibrox and need to make the most of that. With Stuttgart playing league leaders Sevilla in a game which the Spanish outfit should win, a win for Rangers could propel them into second place, with a two point cushion over Stuttgart. That will be the ideal outcome on Tuesday night for the Scots, in this relatively big match in the Group. Rangers, who are one point ahead of rivals Celtic in the Scottish Premier League, are adamant that they have been playing their best football in Europe this season. After a string of 0-0 domestic games, Rangers are back to winning ways in their last two league games.

The Champions League is a completely different story of course, and it is hard to judge the levels of competition from smaller nations. Just ask the two Milan teams who lost points at the hands of minnows on Match Day Two. A loss to the Romanians will leave Rangers a seemingly long way adrift in this year’s campaign. A draw may not disappoint in the long run, but both teams need the win, and they will both be eyeing this match for their first Champions League victory this year.

Rangers to win: 5/6 at Blue Square
Draw: 13/5 at Bet365
Unirea Urziceni to win: 4/1 at SkyBet

Betting Advice: This is a major game in the scheme of the group. Whatever happens in the other game between Stuttgart and Sevilla will have just as much impact on the winner of the Rangers game. Stuttgart are second on two point in second place, and Sevilla are top with six. With both Rangers and Urziceni on one point, this is a whole lot up for stakes here. Will the home advantage be enough to see Rangers across the finish line? Their goalscoring problems have been highlighted, and even though they are top, they are not blitzing their way to glory. This could be a potential night of despair for the Glasgow side. Has draw written all over it.

It is time to return to Champions League action for the big four in England, plus Rangers, who are Scotland’s sole representatives this year. All four English clubs managed a win in their first outings, but they were all performances which did just enough, rather than flatter. Such things can be easily excused so early in the season after new summer signings, but Match Day 2 often signals the settling down of the groups and getting into some kind of European swing of things.

Group E
Fiorentina v Liverpool
Debrecen v Lyon
Liverpool and Lyon were both 1-0 victors over Debrecen and Fiorentina respectively in their opening home matches. They both hit the road this week, with the Reds trundling off to Italy to play the famous Viola. They will be hoping to continue playing a merry tune, as their recent form has seen them scoring freely, largely thanks to Torres and Gerard. Lyon are going along nicely in the French league, sitting in second place and having only suffered one defeat all season. They, Fiorentina and Liverpool in their respective leagues are all kind of in similar standings, so there appears there won’t be too much to choose between these three. Hungarians Debrecen host their first ever Champions League fixture at home, and they couldn’t get much of a tougher task than facing Lyon. Will the sense of occasional overwhelm them, or will the electricity surrounding the event give them the much fabled extra man and help them secure a famous result?

Betting Tips:
Liverpool to draw: 5/2 at Stan-James
Lyon to win: 5/11 at Expekt

To Win Group E
Liverpool – 4/6 at Coral
Lyon – 2/1 at Ladbrokes
Fiorentina – 9/1 at PaddyPower
Debrecen – 150/1 at Bet365

Group F
Rubin Kazan v Inter Milan
Barcelona v Dynamo Kiev
The big opening match in Group F, well, of the Champions League itself really, fizzled out to a 0-0 draw as Jose Mourinho saw his Inter Milan team hold current holders Barcelona. Barcelona looked the better team on the night, and the battle of the two swapped strikers, E’to and Ibrahimovic wasn’t really settled and so we shall await the next fixture in Barcelona. Until then, the Italians face a trip to Russian title holders Rubin Kazan, who lost their first ever Champions League fixture 3-1 to Ukranians Dynamo Kiev. Rubin Kazan was a bit of unknown quantity coming into the tournament this year, but that result against their more established foes, will have put some minds at ease, but perhaps stirred up others about Kiev. Rubin Kazan now get the chance to give their home fans a taste of the Champions League for the first time ever, and what a spectacle they will have, when the colossal heritage of Inter Milan roll up on their doorstep. But truly, whatever the Russian and Ukranian champions can muster up, its not ever likely to threaten tp be enough to get out of the group stage. Inter and Barcelona should be far too strong over the course of the group.

Betting Tips:
Inter Milan to win 1-0: 6/1 at SkyBet
Barcelona to win 3-0: 13/2 at 888Sport

To Win Group F
Barcelona – 4/9 at Totesport
Inter Milan – 3/1 at Coral
Dynamo Kiev – 16/1 at ExtraBet
Rubin Kazan – 66/1 at ExtraBet

Group G
Unirea Urziceni v Stuttgart
Rangers v Sevilla
Sevilla are clearly the strongest team in this group, but Rangers have a great chance to get themselves out of the group stages this season. Stuttgart aren’t having their most wonderful season with only two wins from eight attempts in the Bundesliga, and Romanians Unirea Urziceni shouldn’t pose too many threats to anyone else in the group. There are some big nights ahead for Rangers, and they will need to make the most of home advantage. They will need to overturn some worrying trends against Spanish opposition in order to do so, as they have a terrible record against Spanish teams. Still, the fixtures they way they are for Rangers, could help them get a great boost. A draw wouldn’t even be too bad for the Scottish side and will give them a little heart as the underdogs of the group will be visiting Ibrox next. Unirea Urziceni, guided by the ever happy face of ex Chelsea favourite Dan Petrescu top the Hungarian Liga 1, and this truly is their big chance to grab a night of European glory. It’s a big home night for them too, and passions will be high.

Betting Tips:
Sevilla to win: 20/19 at Expekt
Unirea Urziceni to draw: 5/2 at Boylesports

To Win Group G
Sevilla – 8/15 at Ladbrokes
Stuttgart – 7/2 at ExtraBet
Rangers – 6/1 at Totesport or (6/4 to qualify at Victor Chandler)
Unirea Urziceni - 66/1 at ExtraBet

Group H
Arsenal v Olympiakos
AZ Alkmaar v Standard Liege
Arsenal aside, this is possibly the weakest group in the competition. After getting stunned by two goals in the first five minutes against Liege, Arsenal rallied to a 3-2 win. A loss there would have been considered something of a disaster for Arsene Wenger’s team, and they’ll be glad to get back to the Emirates where they have a formidable record. Olympiakos are a decent team, but not of the quality of the Gunners, and while stubborn, should see defeat. AZ Alkmaar aren’t the wonder boys of Dutch football at the moment, as they have lost three times already in their first eight games, and are facing mid table mediocrity. Standard Liege are three points off the top in the Belgian League, and will be somewhat spirited by the performance against the Arsenal, even if they couldn’t sustain it for 90 minutes. If their fixture against Alkmaar was at home, they would probably be worth backing for a win. However, whether they can replicate their early showing against Arsenal away from home is a different matter, but are still worth an outside punt.

Betting Tips:
Arsenal to win 1-0: 13/2 at Extrabet
Standard Liege Draw No Bet: 13/5 at William Hill

To Win Group H
Arsenal – 2/7 at Coral
Olympiakos – 7/1 at Ladbrokes
AZ Alkmaar – 16/1 at ExtraBet
Standard Liege – 66/1 at ExtraBet

Betting Advice. Clearly you are not going to get a lot of market action on the favourites such as Barcelona. Look for slight underdog teams which are home if you are looking for an upset, but opposed to going all out for a shock, consider the draw. Or, if you want to hedge your bets on an underdog, look for Draw No Bet, which will mean that you will break even in the event of a draw, and be laughing if they do win. Asian Handicaps should also offer a little more chance of return, or just double up, or run an accumulator with some of your selections. Winning a little is better than losing everything.